The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied reports which suggest that a soldier attempted a robbery at a mining site at Nyamesom in the Ashanti region.
According to a publication by Mynewsgh.com on Monday, 25 March 2024, a 27-year-old soldier stationed at Airborne-Tamale, currently on Operation Duty at Bawku, Lance Corporal Opoku Eric was arrested by the Police in Obuasi for attempted robbery
The source further reported that Lance Corporal Opoku Eric was arrested after he and three others stormed a mining site at Nyamesom near Kwabenakwa.
Upon interrogation, Lance Corporal Opoku Eric disclosed that they were at the site to look for their “chop money” since they were on leave for 14 days.
“We just fired warning shots and the workers on site took to their heels. We then took hostage of an excavator operator”, the suspect narrated.
However, he added that, the miners fought back, and he was arrested and presented to the police but his colleagues managed to escape.
The Police retrieved a pump action gun, knives and other offensive weapons upon the arrest.
Meanwhile, a statement from GAF revealed that the said suspect is not a recognized soldier with the Ghana Armed Forces.
“The attention of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been drawn to a news item by Mynewsgh.com on Monday, 25 March 2024, about an attempted robbery at a Mining Site at Nyamesom in the Ashanti Region by a 27-year-old man alleged to be a soldier of the Ghana Armed Forces. Our investigation shows that the alleged suspect is not a soldier of GAF, nor has the institution deployed the said identified person to perform such duties at the said Mining Site. He has no ties whatsoever with GAF”.
GAF further used the opportunity to caution all persons who use military accoutrements without authorization that they would be severely dealt with by the law when caught and urged the public to promptly report suspicious persons in military uniforms to the nearest military unit or police station for the necessary action to be taken.
